'I suggest Billie Jean check her facts': Barry Court defends wife

By Miriam Webber

UpdatedJanuary 14, 2018 — 9.23pmfirst published at 5.19pm

The husband of Margaret Court has defended his wife against comments made by US tennis legend Billie Jean King on Saturday, echoing calls to rename Margaret Court Arena because of her controversial comments on same-sex marriage.

Margaret Court, a fierce opponent of same-sex marriage, has received backlash over a number of her comments.

Last year she announced she would boycott Qantas, following chief executive Alan Joyce's support for same-sex marriage.

In an interview on Vision Christian Radiolast year, she said transgender tendencies in children were "all the devil".

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Billie Jean King (left) said she had hoped Margaret Court (right) would attend the Australian Open this year so the pair could have a discussion about the issue.Credit:Clive Mackinnon

"If you feel like being a girl, you can dress like a girl," said Court in the interview.

"What confusion to a child. I get confused talking about it. You can think, 'I'm a boy', and it affects your emotions and feelings and everything else. That's all the devil."

Court, who amassed 64 grand slam titles in her tennis career, is now a Pentacostal minister at Victory Life Centre Church.

On Saturday, King, who was twice crowned as Australian Open champion, changed her stance on the issue and joined calls to change the name of Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne.

"I was fine until lately, she says so many derogatory things about my community," the openly gay 74-year-old said.

"I personally don't think she should have her name [on the arena] any more. If you were talking about Indigenous people, Jews or any other people, I can't imagine the public would want someone to have their name on something."

King said she would refuse to play there if she was still on tour because of comments made by Court on homosexuality.

In a letter sent to media organisations on Saturday, Mr Court said his wife "never made the statement that transgender children being of the devil [sic]" and that "there should be no thought of changing the name" of the arena.

"We have reputable sources review all her press releases and interviews and cannot trace these remarks back to Margaret."

Margaret Court and Billie Jean King faced off against one another on the court during their careers, but had an amicable relationship outside of the sport.

"Margaret always admired Billie Jean as her number one opponent and often praised her ability," the letter said.

King said she hoped Margaret Court would be attending the Australian Open so the pair could have a discussion about the issue.

"I was looking forward to seeing her, we usually sit together ... We usually have lunch," King said.

A spokeswoman for Tennis Australia said Court had been invited to attend the Australian Open, and had told organisers she would not be attending, though she didn't say why.

In the letter, Mr Court said, "Margaret was advised not to attend the 2018 open", but did not say by whom.

"Her non-attendance was not unusual as she had four children and nine grandchildren and [is] very proud of them all and has taken the chance during the school holidays to spend [time] with her large family," Mr Court wrote.